Chapter 227: Women All Love Children
The scene became awkward.
Sophia hadn't quite caught up. "When did I add you? No, I didn't!"
I retorted, "Didn't you?"
"I..." Sophia coughed lightly, glancing at Jerry with a twitch of her lips. "Did I?"
Jerry nodded firmly. "You added her."
Sophia suddenly caught on, flashing a smile my way. "Right, I added you. My memory has just been all over the place lately."
She quickly turned to Jerry for confirmation. "When did I add Hope?"
Jerry looked up, his expression unchanging. "During dinner. Remember?"
Sophia smacked her forehead in mock realization. "Yes, yes, I even asked Jerry for your account to inform you about his leg pain!"
She then shot another questioning glance at Jerry, who only rolled his eyes in response.
With a meaningful smile, she addressed me again. "Must have been my other account. I seldom use it. How about we add each other anew?"
"Sure," I agreed, exchanging smiles with her.
After that, I returned to the nursing home. Sophia turned from the elevator and re-entered the house, sizing up Jerry with a leisurely gaze.
Jerry frowned, his tone cold. "What are you staring at?"
"No." Sophia shook her head thoughtfully, then opened up a shopping app. "I've been eyeing a bag recently. It's not that pricey. Could you cover it?"
Glancing at the screen, Jerry's face darkened. "Why don't you just rob a bank?"
Sophia nodded, tapping her screen a few times. "I'll clarify with Hope that the other account wasn't mine then. Don't want her falling for any scams, right?"
Jerry gritted his teeth. "Your bank account."
Sophia grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "Jerry, you’re so generous. I’ll have the seller reserve that bag for me right now."
As soon as she finished speaking, her phone beeped. When she saw the account balance, her smile grew even bigger: that was more than enough.
Jerry was someone who never did anything without a benefit and was always stingy. He justifies it by claiming he's saving money for marriage.
But who needed to spend so much money to get married? So, they all privately concluded that Jerry was just plain stingy. No one should expect to spend his money except for holidays.
After laughing, Sophia felt uneasy. This generosity from Jerry was far too unusual. "Since when did you become so magnanimous?"
Jerry glanced at Sophia. "Consider it hush money. Besides, don't you have a close friend who's a top-tier celebrity? Have her find out about Madison's daughter—the one who just popped up last year."
Sophia felt a wave of relief. As suspected, he always had an ulterior motive. She patted her chest. "Alright, leave it to me."
She then arched an eyebrow. "What's gotten into you? Dropping the aloof act to play the pitiful one now?"
Jerry sneered, "Give me back the money."
Sophia glared at him, exasperated. "You're something else. Fine, I’ll drop it."
With calm precision, Jerry shifted the conversation. "Now that you're back in Maple Valley, shouldn’t you bring Nolan back?"
Sophia nodded. "Yes."
A pang of guilt tugged at her heart when she thought of her son, Nolan Ortiz. "I'll pick him up tomorrow; it's the weekend."
Post-divorce, her ex-husband hadn't contested her custody over Nolan, which was a significant relief.
Jerry nodded. "Aren't you busy dating? After you bring him back, I'll take care of him."
"You?" Sophia was stunned.
Jerry’s impatience, especially with kids, was legendary. Ever since Bella disappeared, Jerry found children particularly irksome.
She reached out and touched his forehead. "Do you have a fever?"
Jerry dodged impatiently. "Isn’t it common knowledge that women love kids?"
Hope should love them too, right?
Realization dawned on Sophia, and she chuckled. "So, you're using my son to win back Hope?"
Jerry retorted, "Is that a problem?"
"Nope," Sophia smiled broadly, extending her hand. "But that’ll incur an extra charge. Nolan is the apple of the Ortiz family's eye; he has a high status. Name your price."
Sophia’s past marriage was a merger of families, doomed by two stubborn hearts unwilling to bend. She couldn't comprehend how someone merely six or seven years her senior could be so conservative. If she had worn a sexy nightgown, her ex-husband would shroud her in a robe, entirely devoid of romance.
She had endured it until she couldn't anymore, and they parted ways.
Jerry readily agreed, "No problem, you bring Nolan back tomorrow, and I'll give him whatever he wants."
Sophia eyed him skeptically. "Are you serious? You're not pulling my leg?"
Jerry raised an eyebrow. "Why would I lie to you?"
Kids were easy to please. Asked them if they wanted a million dollars or a toy, and they would pick the toy without hesitation.
Jerry wheeled himself to the window, lifting his eyes to the dark night, his gaze almost merging with the shadows.
He didn’t trust anyone else; he only believed in Bella, or Hope today.
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